Men's basketball team returns to Friel Court for first time in 37 days.

January 12, 1999

PULLMAN, Wash. - The Cougars take to the hardwood of Friel Court for the
first time in 37 days when the Ducks of Oregon visit Thursday night at 7:05
p.m. Saturday afternoon, WSU plays the team it has faced more times than
any other when Oregon State comes to town for a 3:05 p.m. game that will be
shown on Fox Sports Net.

Tentative Cougar Starters

No.

Name

Pos.

Ht.

Wt.

Cl.

1998-99 Statistics

13

Kojo Mensah-Bonsu

F

6-5 1/4

217

SR

13.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.0 bpg

34

Chris Crosby

F

6-7

215

JR

16.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg

44

Eddie Miller

F

6-6

216

SO

9.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg OR

41

Steve Slotemaker

C

6-9

221

SR

5.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg

3

Blake Pengelly

PG

5-10

163

JR

4.6 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 3.8 apg

4

Jan-Michael Thomas

G

5-10 1/2

169

JR

15.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg

Reserves

5

Mike Bush

F

6-5

186

FR

7.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg

12

Kab Kazadi

G

6-0

184

SR

4.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg

40

Brian Stewart

C

6-10 1/4

223

SO

3.1 ppg, 1.3 rpg

42

Will Hutchens

G

6-3 1/2

201

SR

2.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg

54

Leif Nelson

C

6-10 1/2

272

SR

2.1 ppg, 1.8 rpg

10

Cedric Clark

G

5-11 1/2

175

SO

0.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg

WSU-OREGON SERIES: Oregon leads 136-115 in a series that dates back to
1908 (15-12 WSU). This will be the 252nd meeting between the two schools.
All-time, WSU has faced only Oregon State (256 games) and Idaho (253 games)
more often than the Ducks. Oregon should overtake Idaho for the No. 2 spot
during the 1999-2000 season. The Ducks have won three in a row against the
Cougars including a two-game sweep last season (64-63 in Pullman; 71-62 in
Eugene). Last year's win in Pullman was Oregon's first since a 98-87
decision at Beasley in the 1993-94 season.

WSU-OREGON STATE SERIES: Oregon State leads 148-108. The 257th renewal of
a Washington State-Oregon State series that used to be dominated by the
Beavers finds WSU on a two-game winning streak after sweeping in 1997-98
(69-53 in Corvallis; 80-68 in Pullman). In fact, the Cougs have taken nine
of the last 10 from the Beavers. OSU has dropped seven in a row at Friel
Court, last winning there 83-63 in 1990. Overall, the Cougars have won
eight straight home games against the Beavers; seven at Friel and the 1997
game at the Spokane Arena.

PAC-10 POWER: Two weeks of conference play have gone by and all 10 Pac-10
teams still own .500-or-better records entering this week's play. If WSU
and Washington can at least split at home, that trend will continue for
another week.

FUN FACT: The WSU women's basketball team will practice at junior point
guard Blake Pengelly's high school (South Eugene) Thursday night in Eugene.
The women play at Oregon State Friday night and at Oregon Saturday.

This Week

at Friel Court
at Beasley Coliseum (12,058)

Radio: The Crimson & Gray Sports Network will broadcast all WSU games on
its 16-station network with Bud Nameck (6th season) calling the
play-by-play. Broadcasts are also available via the Internet,
www.broadcast.com

Oregon at WSU
Thursday, January 14
7:05 p.m. PST

Television: The Oregon Sports Network will televise the WSU-Oregon game
live to the state of Oregon and to the Vancouver, Wash., area.

Records: WSU is 7-7 (1-2) on the year after dropping a pair of tough
contests at the Arizona schools. Oregon is 9-4 (1-3) after a pair of
heartbreaking home losses to the L.A. schools. The Ducks fell to USC 85-84
on Adam Spanich's miracle three-pointer from half court at buzzer and then
lost a 65-63 decision to UCLA two days later.

Oregon State at WSU
Saturday, January 16
3:05 p.m. PST

Television: Fox Sports Net will televise the Oregon State-Washington State
game live nationally. Ron Thulin and TBA are the announcers.

Records: OSU is 8-5 overall (2-2 Pac-10) following a surprising sweep of
the L.A. schools in Corvallis. The Beavers play at Washington Thursday
night before Saturday's game.

On Deck: The Cougars head to the Bay Area to take on No. 4 Stanford on
Thursday, January 21 and California on Saturday, January 23.

1998-99 Schedule/Results

7-7/1-2

Date

Opponent

Time

Score

11/16

CENTRAL WASHINGTON

W

91-78

11/19

at Alaska-Fairbanks+

L

75-88

11/21

vs. Nebraska+

L

84-95

11/22

vs. Virginia+

L

53-62

11/28

vs. Gonzaga*

L

61-70

12/2

PORTLAND STATE

W

74-71

12/5

at Eastern Washington

W

91-72

12/8

BRIGHAM YOUNG@

W

70-69

12/20

at Idaho

W

84-69

12/28

at Texas-El Paso

L

66-76

12/29

vs. Grambling State

W

114-68

1/3

vs. WASHINGTON#*

W

72-71

1/7

at Arizona#

L

87-98

1/9

at Arizona State#

L

63-91

1/14

OREGON#

7:05 p.m.

1/16

OREGON STATE (FSN)#

3:05 p.m.

1/21

at Stanford#

7:30 p.m.

1/23

at California (FSB)#

1:00 p.m.

1/28

UCLA#

7:05 p.m.

1/30

USC (FSNW)#

5:00 p.m.

2/4

ARIZONA STATE#

7:05 p.m.

2/6

ARIZONA (FSN)#

3:00 p.m.

2/11

at Oregon#

7:05 p.m.

2/13

at Oregon State#

5:07 p.m.

2/18

CALIFORNIA#

7:05 p.m.

2/20

STANFORD (FSNW)#

7:00 p.m.

2/25

at UCLA#

7:30 p.m.

2/27

at USC#

5:00 p.m.

3/6

at Washington#

3:00 p.m.

All times Pacific

# Pacific-10 Conference game

+ Top of the World Classic, Fairbanks, Alaska

* Spokane Arena, Spokane, Wash.

Sun Bowl Classic, El Paso, Texas

@ Doubleheader with WSU women

EASTMAN NEARS 200 VICTORIES: Kevin Eastman is in his fifth season as head
coach at WSU. He has a 66-66 (.500) five-year record. Among Cougar coaches
with at least a four-year tenure, Eastman's winning percentage is tied for
fourth with Kelvin Sampson's .500 (103-103/1988-94). The New Brunswick,
N.J., native's winning percentage also trails three WSU coaching legends,
Jack Friel's .568 (495-377/1929-58), Fred Bohler's .561 (226-177/1909-26)
and George Raveling's .551 (167-136/1973-83).

Overall in 11 years as a head coach, Eastman holds a 190-141 (.574)
record. Included in that are a 65-22 mark at Belmont Abbey and a 59-53 mark
at UNC-Wilmington.

HOME SWEET HOME: The WSU-Oregon game will be the Cougars' first home game
at Beasley Coliseum's Friel Court in 37 days. WSU's last game in Pullman
was the Brigham Young win way back on December 8. Since then, WSU has
played six games away from home, going 3-3.

WSU is 3-0 at Friel Court this season with wins over Central Washington
(91-78), Portland State (74-71) and BYU (70-69). WSU is one of six Pac-10
teams that has yet to lose at home in 1998-99.

WSU WINS 200th AT FRIEL COURT: Washington State's 74-71 victory December 2
against Portland State was the Cougars' 200th all-time win at Friel Court.
Beginning with an 80-78 WSU victory against Louisiana State on December 1,
1973, the Cougars have won nearly two-thirds of the games they have played
there (.653). WSU has a 201-107 all-time record in Beasley. Milestone wins
at Friel:

HOME NON-LEAGUE STREAK AT 41: By defeating Brigham Young 70-69 on December
8, WSU posted its ninth straight perfect home non-conference season. The
BYU win was WSU's 41st consecutive non-conference victory in Pullman. The
Cougars have not lost at home to a non-conference foe since December 14,
1989, when Idaho escaped Friel Court with a 56-52 win.

The streak began with a 112-81 win over BYU-Hawaii in the first game of
the 1990-91 season. WSU's 41 wins include 36 at Friel and five at Bohler
Gym (all during the 1990-91 season). The streak also includes NIT victories
in 1992 (Minnesota), 1995 (Texas Tech) and 1996 (Gonzaga).

ANOTHER GAME, ANOTHER RECORD: From Alaska to Texas, it seems like just
about everywhere the Cougars travel this season, they set a record. The
most recent trip to Arizona was no exception. Junior guard Jan-Michael
Thomas set McKale Center and Arizona opponent records with eight three
pointers in WSU's 98-87 loss on January 7. It was the fourth and fifth
records of the season established or tied by Thomas alone.

KOJO'S MOJO: Senior forward Kojo Mensah-Bonsu is emerging as one of the
best all-around players in the Pac-10. He recorded his fourth double-double
of the season at Arizona State when he scored 15 points and collected a
career-high 11 rebounds. He currently ranks 16th in scoring (13.1 ppg), and
ninth in rebounds (6.7 rpg) and blocked shots (1.0 bpg). His four
double-doubles rank fifth in the Pac-10.

During the last nine games (during which he recorded all four
double-doubles), Kojo is averaging 14.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks
per game.

In the January 3 upset of Washington, Kojo had 19 points and 10 rebounds
and helped hold Washington All-America center Todd MacCullough to just two
points.

Kojo has been WSU's leading rebounder in seven of the last nine games and
has scored in double digits in nine of the last 12.

SWITCHING STARTERS: Mainly due to injury, WSU has used eight different
starting lineups in 14 games this season. Only senior forward Kojo
Mensah-Bonsu and junior guard Blake Pengelly have started all 14 games.
Nine of WSU's 12 players have made at least one start this year. Here's a
look:

SCOUTING OREGON: The Ducks have recently suffered two of the more
demoralizing defeats in college basketball this season. Last Thursday
night's heartbreaker to USC (85-84) on Adam Spanich's miracle half court
three-point buzzer-beater has to be one of the most remarkable finishes in
Pac-10 history. Not to get down on themselves, the Ducks took UCLA to the
brink before falling to 65-63 on Saturday. Despite the losses, Oregon (9-4,
1-3) is among the teams receiving votes in the Top 25 polls. The Washington
State-Oregon game is a match-up of the top two three-point teams in the
Pac-10; Oregon averages 8.23 treys per game, while the Cougs narrowly trail
that mark at 7.93. The Cougars lead the conference in three-point
percentage (.410), while UO is third (.378). The Ducks also possess a tall
lineup, as evidenced by their 4.54 blocks per game (second Pac-10).

Tentative Duck Starters

No.

Name

Pos.

Ht.

Cl.

1998-99 Statistics

00

A.D. Smith

F

6-8

JR

13.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg

33

Alex Scales

F

6-4

JR

14.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.6 apg

54

Flo Hartenstein

C

6-9

SO

4.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg

04

Darius Wright

G

6-0

JR

5.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 4.6 apg

20

Frederick Jones

G

6-3

FR

10.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg,

SCOUTING OREGON STATE: The Beavers pulled off the biggest upset so far of
the young Pac-10 season when they knocked off No. 8 UCLA 65-63 last
Thursday. OSU followed that win with a 69-66 overtime decision against USC
on Saturday. Sophomore guard Deaundra Tanner was named Pac-10 Player of the
Week for his role in the OSU sweep. He averaged 23.0 points, 9.0 rebounds,
5.0 assists and 3.0 steals per game. The Beavers are one of the best
defensive teams in the Pac-10, allowing opponents to shoot just 35 percent
from the field (first) and score just 58.2 points per game (second).
Conversely, WSU scores 77.5 points per game (fourth). OSU is down to 10
active players after freshman guard Moses Olsen decided to leave school.

Tentative Beaver Starters

No.

Name

Pos.

Ht.

Cl.

1998-99 Statistics

11

Clifton Jones

F

6-8

JR

3.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.2 bpg

54

G. von Backstrom

C

7-0

JR

4.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg

04

Deaundra Tanner

G

6-2

SO

14.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.8 apg

25

Josh Steinthal

G

6-4

SO

10.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg

31

Ramunas Petraitis

G

6-3

JR

6.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.1 apg

ARIZONA-ASU RECAP: WSU played two hard-fought games, but came up with a
pair of losses to show for it. Last Thursday at Arizona, WSU could not
overcome a 54-23 Wildcat rebound edge and lost 98-87. But the effort was
one of WSU's best; the 87 points was the most the Cougars have ever scored
in Tucson. And the 30 Arizona turnovers was the most-ever by a Lute
Olsen-coached Arizona team. Add Jan-Michael Thomas' career-high 34 points
and record-setting performance (see next note) and WSU took several
positives, if not a win, away from McKale Center.

Saturday night at Tempe, the Cougars could not overcome the losses of
Thomas (stomach flu) or Eddie Miller (hip, suffered at the end of the first
half) and dropped a 91-63 decision to Arizona State. Kojo Mensah-Bonsu
carded his fourth double-double of the season with 15 points and a
career-high 11 rebounds, while Chris Crosby had 18 points. Both Miller and
Thomas are probable for the Oregon game, however the stomach flu may be
afflicting the entire Cougar squad. Junior guard Blake Pengelly (Thomas'
roommate on the Arizona trip) came down with the flu Monday. It is hoped
that Pengelly can recover in time for Thursday's Oregon game.

WSU shot exceptionally well from the free throw line against the Sun
Devils, making a season-best 94.4 percent (22-24), but without Thomas, WSU
netted just one of 13 three-point shots (7.7 percent). It was the first
time this season the Cougars had been held below four three pointers. It
was also WSU's largest loss of the year (28 points). The previous big loss
came against Alaska- Fairbanks (13 points).

AIRWOLF JAN-MICHAEL THOMAS: Junior guard Jan-Michael Thomas has really
been impressive from beyond the arc. The Cougar gunman ranks fifth
nationally in three-point field goals made per game at 3.8 (the national
leader is Brian Merriweather of Texas-Pan American at 4.9 per game).

Jan-Michael, who was named after actor Jan-Michael Vincent, has made 31 of
his 49 three-pointers in his last seven games; that's an average of 4.4 per
game! Only once during that span has Thomas been held below two treys and
that was the Washington game when his sole three pointer with three seconds
remaining was the game winner.

The Inglewood, Calif., native most recently set McKale Center and Arizona
opponent records when he nailed eight threes at Tucson last Thursday.
Thomas scored a career-high 34 points versus the Wildcats.

He also set Sun Classic and Don Haskins Center records when he buried
eight three pointers in WSU's first round loss to UTEP on December 28.

THOMAS NAMED PAC-10 POTW - Junior guard Jan-Michael Thomas was named the
Pac-10 Player of the Week on December 14 for his performance in the
Cougars' 70-69 win against Brigham Young December 8 in Pullman.

Thomas scored 17 of his team-high 22 points in the second half. He
converted three of his final four free throw attempts, including the
game-winner with nine seconds remaining. Thomas, a native of Inglewood,
Calif., is among the Pac-10 leaders in three-point field goal pct., having
connected on 49 of 104 attempts (.471). It was the first career award for
Thomas and the first Pac-10 player of the week award for WSU since Mark
Hendrickson was honored on January 23, 1995. It is the Cougars' 13th
all-time player of the week award.

THOMAS EYES SEASON MARK: At his current pace of 3.76 three-point baskets
per game, Jan-Michael Thomas would record 106 treys during the regular
season (28 games; he missed the Arizona State game with the flu), which
would easily shatter the Cougar single-season record of 83 set by Eddie
Hill in 1994. Thomas could challenge the Pac-10 record of 114 set by
Arizona's Steve Kerr in 1988.

As a team, the Cougars lead the conference in three-point field goal
percentage (.410) and rank second in three-pointers made per game (7.93).
WSU is also on pace to break the school record of 221 three-point goals set
in 1994. Additionally, the Cougars' .410 three-point field goal percentage
is ahead of the schools record of .404 set in 1993.

KAZADI MISSES, STILL SHOOTING WELL AT FT LINE: Senior guard Kab Kazadi
finally missed another free throw during last Thursday's loss to Arizona.
He had made 13 straight attempts dating back to the BYU game on December 8,
and had not missed in more than a month; his last misfire came during the
second half at Eastern Washington on December 5.

Kazadi is still among WSU's free throw percentage leaders, connecting on
77.3 percent for the year. Kazadi came into 1998-99 a 67 percent career
free throw shooter.

CLOSE ONES GO WSU'S WAY: Last year, WSU was 2-9 in games decided by seven
points or less. This season in that same category, WSU is 3-0 with a pair
of one point victories.

INJURIES TAKE TOLL: For the first time this season, all 12 WSU players
were in uniform and healthy when the Cougars took the floor December 28
versus Texas-El Paso. One day later, all 12 Cougars saw action in the rout
of Grambling State.

From game one, WSU had at least one player unavailable due to injury. The
first four games, back-up point guard Kab Kazadi was nursing a deep thigh
bruise. Then just as Kazadi returned for the Gonzaga game, another player,
sophomore forward Eddie Miller went down during the last 15 minutes of the
last practice before the Gonzaga game. He was the first of WSU's six left
ankle injuries.

Sophomore center Brian Stewart was ankle No. 2 just three days later,
while senior forward Steve Slotemaker suffered the team's third left ankle
sprain during the first half of the December 2 win against Portland State
when he fell on a Viking player following a three-point shot attempt. That
was a span of six days when three players sprained their left ankle. Miller
and Stewart each missed two games, while Slotemaker was lost a span of
three games.

In mid-December, freshman guard Mike Bush sprained his left ankle walking
on an icy sidewalk, while Kazadi suffered a left ankle sprain during a
finals week practice. Both returned in time for the Idaho game.

Perhaps the strangest left ankle sprain happened to senior center Leif
Nelson who suffered the injury on December 13 while playing with some local
youths during a Cougar appearance in the Pullman community. Nelson missed
the Idaho game but returned to play versus UTEP.

The flu bug hit junior guard Jan-Michael Thomas for the January 9 Arizona
State game as he missed his first contest of the year.

Cougar players have sat out a combined 13 games in 1998-99 due to injury
or illness.

PRIDE OF DAYTON EARNS FIRST CAREER START: Senior guard Will Hutchens, a
former walk-on, continues to see his role increase. After playing a
career-high 19 minutes at Idaho, the "Pride of Dayton" topped that with 23
minutes of action versus UTEP. He then earned his first career start
against Grambling State where he grabbed a career-high six rebounds to go
along with nine points. The 1995 state B player of the year, Hutchens is
averaging 13 minutes per game during the last seven games.

CROSBY HANDLES VANDALS: Junior forward Chris Crosby was nearly
unstoppable in WSU's 84-69 December 20 win at Idaho. He tied a school
record with nine three pointers (set by Bennie Seltzer, vs. Stanford,
2/27/93), was one shy of the Pac-10 record and nearly set another by
hitting 90 percent (9-10) of his three point attempts (Eddie Hill's
1.000/6-6 is the school mark).

Crosby scored a career-high 38 points (tied for the fifth-highest single
game total in WSU history) on 13-of-17 shooting and was a perfect
three-for-three at the free throw line. His 38 points was the most by a WSU
player since Isaac Fontaine had 38 in a double-overtime loss to Arizona on
March 2, 1995. Crosby's 13 field goals and 17 attempts were also career-highs.

CROSBY EARNS ALL-TOURNEY NOD: Junior Chris Crosby was named to the
all-tournament team for his play at the Top of the World Classic, November
19-22, in Fairbanks, Alaska. It was the first career all-tournament
selection for the Littleton, Colo., native. Crosby was among the
tournament's top scorers and rebounders, averaging 17.8 points and 7.3
rebounds per contest for the three-game event. Included in that was 25
points and career-highs in rebounds (13) and free throws (12) versus
Alaska-Fairbanks.

MANAGER COHN HONORED: Perhaps the surprise of the Top of the World Classic
came during the awards ceremony when WSU student manager Jeff Cohn was
honored with the Order of Nanook Award. The Fairbanks Princess Hotel
presents the award to the top manager, "for meritorious demonstration of
courtesy, cooperation and competence." Cohn, a senior from Foster City,
Calif., majoring in communications, was honored with two different plaques
and a giant collectable polar bear (stuffed, of course).

ABOUT THE SCHEDULE: Washington State is again playing a challenging
schedule. The Cougars have eight games against teams ranked in the
preseason polls (Stanford, UCLA, Washington and Arizona - twice) and 13
games versus teams that played in the 1998 postseason (NCAA: Stanford,
UCLA, Washington and Arizona - twice, Nebraska - once; NIT: Arizona State -
twice, Gonzaga - once; NAIA: Central Washington).

THE PENGELLY IS MIGHTIER THAN: Junior guard Blake Pengelly is climbing
WSU career lists in assists and three-point shooting. He tied Anthony Kidd
for eighth in assists during the Arizona State game and needs nine more
assists to pass No. 7 Brad Johnson (263/1972-74). The Eugene, Ore., native
ranks third in three-point field goal percentage at .426, ninth in three
pointers made with 104 and 10th in three-pointers attempted with 244.

Junior forward Chris Crosby passed Brian Wright (111/1986-89) for seventh
in career three-pointers made during the Arizona State game and needs just
two more to pass Shamon Antrum (113) for sixth. Here's a look at where
Pengelly and Crosby rank: